Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up 2008

The Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up 2008 event was once again a BIG success! Teams and individuals from around the world climbed, ran, walked and cycled for a common cause: to help children with HIV/AIDS.

Together, they raised over $23,500!

All funds raised benefit the American Foundation for Children with AIDS. AFCA provides life-saving medicine, supplies and food to children in Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe who have been infected with HIV/AIDS.

On behalf of the children served by AFCA, the board of directors, staff and volunteers of AFCA - THANK YOU to all sponsors and participants in Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up 2008.

Congratulations to our winners!

Team Maisha, from Seattle, WA, won a trip for two to Namibia, compliments of CrissCross Namibia by raising over $8,500!! Jade Jackson of Team KanyeKanye (Charlotte, NC) won an overnight for two to DC, compliments of The River Inn. Jeff Zschunke won his choice of an EcoQuest Course, Birding in the Bush or Animal Tracks and Tracking in South Africa, compliments of EcoTraining. Over 80 other participants will receive backpacks (compliments of Samsonite), Larabars, chalk bags (compliments of Black Diamond), water bottles, climbing chalk, magazine subscriptions (compliments of Women's Adventure Magazine, Rock and Ice, Cycling, and Runner's World), t-shirts, Go!Towels, light towels, stickers, etc. depending on the amount they raised.

CheapOair Charitable Endeavors: Co-sponsoring AFCA’s ‘Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up’ Event

CheapOair believes in the significance and vitality of giving back to society and the environment. It has always been actively involved in sponsoring and supporting serious social causes and issues. Earlier this year CheapOair donated $5,000 to Doctors Without Borders, continuing its efforts in helping the charitable organizations through funds and donations CheapOair has co-sponsored American Foundation for Children with AIDS (AFCA) 'Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up' Event along with other prominent organizations like CrissCross, SENE, EcoTraining, ecoVenture. The event invites volunteers to climb, hike, cycle, or run to save the lives of children affected by the AIDS epidemic.

The incidence of AIDS in Zimbabwe is getting worst day by day and AFCA has been working to improve the lives of children and youth struggling with the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. CheapOair CEO, Mr. Jain felt that it was essential to support such a serious issue affecting the lives of millions worldwide. CheapOair would like to participate more in such humanitarian actions to assist in world affairs where people are most affected, in order to build a responsible business.

Author Commends American Foundation for Children with AIDS

Book by best-selling author David Elliot Cohen recognizes the American Foundation for Children with AIDS as a salutary organization

The American Foundation for Children with AIDS has been included in best-selling author David Elliot Cohen’s new book, What Matters, as a noteworthy organization in the struggle against AIDS. Using alluring photographs and stimulating essays, the book has brought a spotlight on the continuous battle against AIDS in Africa. Sterling Publishing, a division of Barnes & Noble, will publish the book on September 2, 2008.

“The purpose of the What Matters project is to provoke discussion of essential global issues in various media, to inspire social action, and to provide readers with resources they can utilize to help create social change,” said Rose Whitmore, editorial assistant of What Matters.

The book and website contain a “What You Can Do” section in order to inspire the readers to become involved. Within the topic of the AIDS epidemic, the American Foundation for Children with AIDS has been acknowledged as a leading organization to stop the spread of AIDS and HIV in Africa. The public can view the complete contents of the book online at http://www.whatmattersonline.com.

“The idea, of course, is to get these very visceral photographs and poignant essays in front of as many people as possible and then translate the resulting interest into donations and actions through organizations,” stated Rose Whitmore.

The American Foundation for Children with AIDS continues to grow with notoriety from publications such as What Matters. A contribution of $30 provides a full month's worth of life-saving medication to an HIV positive child. With $7,000, AFCA can provide a 40-foot container of much-needed food, hygiene kits, milk, and medical supplies to partner hospitals.

To learn more about AFCA, become involved or make a contribution, please visit http://www.helpchildrenwithaids.org. All donations are tax-deductible.

About American Foundation for Children with AIDS
American Foundation for Children with AIDS is an independent international humanitarian aid organization established in 2004. AFCA is a 501(c)(3) not–for-profit organization incorporated in the state of Florida, USA. It has been certified Best in America by the Independent Charities of America. AFCA’s mission is to improve the lives of children and youth struggling with the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. We provide cost-effective relief, services, medical and social support, education and advocacy to help these individuals achieve their full life potential.

AFCA believes that true success is achieved through collaboration with qualified local professionals. To this end, we partner with the following agencies to deliver quality, donated anti-retroviral medications and supplies to HIV-positive children and their caretakers: Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda; Community Based Health Care Program in Mombasa, Kenya; Voi Children’s Health Program in Voi, Kenya; ZOE in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, St. Theresa’s Home of Hope in Elementita, Kenya; and St. Mary’s Mission Hospitals in Nairobi and Elementita, Kenya.

Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up Team Climbs Kahiltna Glacier to Help Children With Aids in Africa

Justin Wood (Bellingham, Washington), Jeremy Ellison (Lake Tahoe, California), Johnny Davison (Lake Wanaka, New Zealand), and Aidan Loehr (Bellingham, Washington) summited 20,320-foot summit on July 1, carrying the flag of the “Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up” drive for fund raising and public awareness of infant and childhood AIDS in Africa. The alpinists flew onto the Kahiltna Glacier in the Denali National Park on June 15th. They gradually worked their way up glaciers on the mountain’s western flank until reaching Camp 3 at 14,000 feet where they were pinned down by heavy snows and high winds for a week. On July 30th they made it to a high camp at 17,200 where they spent two nights before making their summit bid on July 2nd.

Wood reported that it was a beautiful day to summit and that the conditions were especially appreciated after so many days and nights of storm. In a statement that he wrote out and then read over a satellite telephone from high on Denali, Wood said:

“This whole trip has seemed parallel to the fights against AIDS. We had some tough times, there were many days on which we had to revise our plans, and there were many days on which we thought it might not be possible to reach our goals despite our best efforts. But we kept our focus, and we were committed to lasting out our troubles with this storm high on the mountain rather than trying to head down to lower altitudes.

“We had all trained hard so we felt like we had the personal resources in fitness and gear to back up our mental commitment to hang in there. The storms and the bad days weren’t fun, but we kept focused on the goal, and while waiting for our chance for success, really watched out for each other. It was a huge team effort. Everyone doing a good job himself plus watching out for the well being of the other guy is what made weathering the miserable conditions possible.

“In the end we pushed a little further when it looked like there might be an opportunity to try for the summit. We moved to seventeen thousand not knowing for sure if we would have our window of opportunity, but we knew if we didn’t give it our all and put ourselves in that position at 17,200 feet, we definitely couldn’t succeed. So we moved up, took a rest day, and then found our window of opportunity.

“There was great joy and pride in our group when after a very long summit day, we moved to the top and set foot on the 20,320’ summit of North America. We were personally psyched, and we were all very excited to be using the moment to be drawing attention to the AIDS epidemic and to the fact that by working together and by staying committed, we will find a solution to this immense problem.

“We are convinced that ending the epidemic will eventually be possible, and that in the mean time, education of and resulting compassion from the general public will help those who have been stricken survive and live good lives. Like each member of this team doing their part, we are convinced that if each person sees themselves as part of a team to fight AIDS and plays their small part, we can have enormous effect.

“Like this team hanging in their day after day in the awful conditions, if each person who learns about this will just hang in there with a small donation month after month, the effect we can have is tremendous. We’re hoping to inspire people to see themselves as part of a team on a very long expedition. We hope each will make a commitment to giving long-term to reach our summit goal of helping these young people live fruitful lives. Instead of giving $100 one time, this team hopes the members of the bigger team to fight AIDS will give a set amount each month (whether its $10 or $50) and make their team membership in the fight against AIDS an ongoing part of their life. That’s the hope and commitment we want to pass on to you. If we can reach a goal like summiting Denali under difficult conditions in an arctic environment, we are convinced we can succeed in helping these kids live to see a tomorrow. Let’s do it!”

The team expects to return to the base of the mountain by July 3 and fly off the glacier on July 4th.

AIDS fact of the day

On this date in 1981, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that five gay men in Los Angeles were suffering from a rare pneumonia found in patients with weakened immune systems. They were the first recognized cases of what came to be known as AIDS.

Wow. It's amazing to think how far we've come in 27 years. It's also mind-boggling in some respects to think about how far we have to go yet in this fight.

American Foundation for Children with AIDS Referenced in What Matters by David Elliot Cohen

We were so thrilled to be informed that the American Foundation for Children with AIDS will be listed as reference in the "What You Can Do" section of David Elliot Cohen's new book titled What Matters. We are absolutely honored and grateful to be included in this book, and we look forward to many more kids having life because of the inclusion.

David Elliot Cohen is the author of The Day in the Life and America 24/7 photo book series. His new book What Matters will be published by the Sterling Publishing division of Barnes & Noble on September 2nd, 2008.

What Matters contains 18 searing, socially conscious photo essays by the great photojournalists of our generation including James Nachtwey and Sebastiao Salgado. These essays, shot over the course of years, address the essential issues of our time. Each photo-essay is accompanied by a passionate, polemical essay written by such well known experts such as Jeffrey Sachs (The End of Poverty), Samantha Power (Pulitzer Prize winner for A Problem From Hell: America in the Age of Genocide), and Bill McKibben (The End of Nature). The purpose of the What Matters project is:

• to use superior photography and prose to highlight and provoke discussion of essential global issues in various media,
• to inspire social action; and
• to provide readers with resources they can utilize to help create social change.

We encourage all of you to visit the book's website.
You can also download the book at http://whatmatters.blog.com.

Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up Posters!

We have some posters for this year's Climb event!


Please click here to download a poster. Hang it up anyplace anyone might see it.

Last year's Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up event was a great success. Hikers, bikers and staircase climbers across the U.S. literally climbed to the rescue and reached incredible heights to raise over $14,500 for a common goal: to save the lives of children affected by AIDS. The money raised gave 38 children daily life-saving medicine for an entire year.

Here's a video of some of the kids the AFCA programs help. They're so cute!

For anyone interested in participating in this year's Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up event, mark your calendars for September 20 and 21. Then please click here to learn more or to register. REMEMBER: You don't have to climb a rock!! You can walk around your living room if you want to!!

Mombasa days

I am sitting in the guesthouse room, looking over our budget and trying to figure out if we can possibly hire an assistant, since there is just way too much to do. Outside, right below my window, there is a wedding taking place. Two houses down, there is another wedding taking place. Both have music happening and people talking and children running around and it all adds up to LOTS OF NOISE. Suddenly, from across the street, I hear the call to prayer from the mosque. And, I start laughing with Mary (who is also trying to do some work…involving numbers, as well) as we try to reconcile two wedding bashes and their music with the call to prayer of the mullah. Strange…

The cold water shower feels good after a day of traipsing around in the mugginess that engulfs Mombasa and the coast, so there are no complaints there. Our little Mombasa guesthouse is quite comfortable, really, but it does have the added bonus of having iguanas and lizards running around. I have found lizard and/or iguana poop on the beds and my things and it sort of makes me not sleep too well because all I can think of is that one of those creatures is going to run up my body sometime through the night. Even though they are cute and all, I don’t relish the thought of them waking me up by crawling on me. So, I am not sleeping too well here.

Today we were told that we should take beans, rice, milk or sugar to our friends in Zimbabwe, as they really don’t have much of anything. So, we trundled off to the supermarket and purchased some stuff to take with us and now my suitcases are heavy again. I was all excited that my suitcases weren’t so full or heavy anymore since I’ve unloaded 2/3 of the gifts we brought, including 17 pounds of candy and 20 pounds of stickers. I was wrong! They are heavy again. Just received an SMS telling me that we should still plan on coming to Zimbabwe, even though there still has not been an announcement of who won the presidency. Hope everything stays as calm as can be while we are there!

Africa: Day 2 (Kampala, Uganda)

Who am I? Who am I to be given this task of providing ARVs and medicine to children in East and Southern Africa? Who am I to be allowed to be a part of something like this, where I get to meet brave people who every day fight for the rights of children to have adequate care and a hope of life? Who am I to fit into this large puzzle as a little piece, adding a bit of color, a bit of character in what could really quite a bleak picture if not for the people here on the ground in Africa and in other parts of the world who toil day in and day out to provide the kids with what they need? They are the ones who are the main characters in the puzzle… the picture would be impossible without them.

I am always humbled when I see what ordinary people can do with a little elbow grease, hard work, some donations, and lots of prayer. I am amazed that I, little Tanya, am a part of the work done by Mulago Hospital, which provides care for 25% of the children who receive ART in Uganda. There are so many others who need help…so many who could use some medicine…we have a lot more to do! Food, counseling, medicine, testing, PMTCT, community development, and so many other steps are needed in order to do a complete job. When I see it all coming together, as I did in Mulago today, I get overjoyed that we are a little sliver in the big pie which constitutes ART (anti-retroviral therapy).

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Center of Mulago Hospital is overflowing…children, babies, and parents wait patiently for hours, waiting to be seen…on an average day, 175 children are seen at this Center. Waiting rooms are full to capacity, hallways have become a place of gathering, with nurses and doctors having to squeeze their way through. Two doctors share each of the consulting rooms because they have run out of space. Yet, patients keep coming and they literally overflow to the outer walls of the Center, finding shade as they know the wait could be long. Yet, they wait because they know that their children will be treated with dignity and that if they need help and medicine, they will not be turned away. In fact, AFCA provides medicine for 350 of the kids who need the life saving (anti-retroviral) medicine these kids need to survive and it is awesome to see how

In the main waiting room, Nurse Jane is reading books to waiting children and a play mat is set up in the corner for the kids to do some exercise and games every day. not only does this help kill some of the boredom of waiting, but the kids get a rare chance of reading and borrowing books from the “waiting room library”, a little cubby with inventoried book which the kids can check out to read while they wait. As we walk through the waiting room, little hands reach out to touch our white legs, smiling when they’ve touched the foreigner. Curly, braided, matted, out of control, combed, clean and/or dirty little heads look up at us, not knowing who we are. Not knowing that my heart is breaking for the other children, the ones who don’t have the opportunity for care and medicine. As I look into their eyes, whether they are sick or doing better, I feel a sense of urgency to do more, to help in a larger way. And I come back around to the question “who am I to have been chosen to do this work, to be given the chance to help in some way?”

And, I am humbled to be counted as one of those who is battling in the fight against pediatric AIDS.

Africa: Day 1

24 hours after leaving Harrisburg, PA, I landed in Kampala, Uganda. A long journey, but a good one. I had good seat mates and laughed at dumb movies shown on the long flight from Amsterdam to Kampala. I tell you what! It is so not worth flying on US airlines! The food wasn’t good, the seating was SOOOO cramped and the movie didn’t work. That makes for a very long transatlantic flight. But, once we got on KLM in Amsterdam, everything changed and it was comfortable and the food was downright good. I laughed so much at the movie “enchanted”…hilarious…well, the first 2/3 of it was hilarious. The last part was a waste of time, but the first part made it well worth the watch.

We hired Charles, a taxi driver, to take us to the guesthouse where Mary and I are staying and as we made our way from the airport there, I felt familiar with the smell of Uganda and the banana leaves. It brings me back to my childhood in Colombia and all that is comforting and equatorial to my senses. The noise of the traffic, the congestion, the beeping and moving of cars is not something I missed, though! But the warmth of the reception at the guesthouse, where Phoebe has greeted me each year I come to visit was most welcome and I felt like I was visiting a friend. Full on a plate of fresh French fries fried as soon as we arrived, with some sliced tomatoes, I made my way to my room to shower in what seemed like an eternity and to brush my teeth. I felt new in no time, but decided that I should sleep as I hadn’t slept in any of the flights over.

Now, it is morning, I hear the birds chirping and the traffic roaring. It is time for breakfast and to start our visits with our partners. Today we officially start our visit to Africa by meeting with Dr. Addy K at the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Center at the Mulago Hospital, where we provide ARV’s and other medicine to HIV+ kids and their HIV+ guardians. I am so excited to see what and how they are doing and to deliver the thousands of stickers and all the books we brought for the kids who get tested at the center to determine what they have. Stickers are such a part of our own children’s lives that we take them for granted. But here, they are not all that common and the kids really like having something to take home after being brave at the lab. Thanks to MediBadge for the 7500 stickers they gave us to bring to the kids!

I hear the sound of foot traffic outside my window…the day is definitely flowing by me and I need to make my way to breakfast.

Off to Africa

Well, the time has come to go back to wonderful, vibrant, tragic, musical Africa. I love visiting our programs and seeing how well our children do under the care of doctors, nurses and communities which care for them. It is wonderful to hear the singing and to feel the beat of voices as children spontaneously gather in a large group to sing a welcome.

There is also great sadness when i think of all the children we cannot help, those who suffer and die because there simply is not enough medicine for them all. Such gorgeous children and so much need. I always leave wishing we could do more, that we had all the funding in the world so that every single one of those beautiful children would have a chance.

So, an unusual thing ends up happening inside of me. I pray I will return with a whole heart, not the broken heart with which I usually carry around in me. I want to be strong, to endure and to carry on without the burden of caring too much. Yet, I pray that my heart will be broken, so that I never stop caring and so that our work will continue, no matter how difficult it may get. I want to fight for these kids, to give them hope. So, a splitting in my heart is inevitable and all I can do is to let the feeling continue, as it has for a few years now.

These days before the trip, there is so much to do and I am too busy...Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up takes up a lot of my time, office work, finding new donors, thanking others, writing, reports, packing, playing with Julia...it is all coming together in a ball of activity which doesn't seem to cease for long these days. Soon, though, I'll be on a plane, crossing the ocean to visit some incredible little children who are alive due to the generosity of others. And, I can't wait!

Fun fact

On March 20th, 1987, the Food & Drug Administration approved the sale of AZT (azidothymidine), a drug shown to prolong the lives of some AIDS patients. This was the first approved treatment for HIV.

(That drug was first created in 1964, and it was intended to treat cancer. However, because it had too many side effects and was not really effective as a cancer treatment, use of that drug was shelved until years later.)

Beverlyne will go to school!

For those of you who have seen our 3.5 minute documentary on Beverlyne, a girl in our Mombasa, Kenya program, you'll be happy to know that her dream of becoming a nurse is more possible than ever! A generous donor has agreed to cover her boarding school expenses for the next four year, enabling her to get a good education as she strives to learn more and to one day become a nurse. It is so exciting to know that together, we can really make a difference in the life of a child. i can't wait to hear her reaction to the news...

Are you wondering what to give your brother for his birthday, or your parents for their anniversary? What about your friend who is getting married and already has everything she needs? How about giving them something new..something that will give children a chance to live a healthy and full life? Instead of giving another sweater or a picture frame, visit Changing the Present and chose a gift of meaning...of life. Have fun shopping!

Climbers needed to save lives

The American Foundation for Children with AIDS (AFCA) and the American Alpine Institute are teaming up again to host Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up. The global climb-a-thon will increase awareness of the pediatric AIDS pandemic and raise funds for life-saving anti-retroviral (ARV) medication, food, and medical and humanitarian supplies to children affected by HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Hikers, cyclists, climbers, and runners of all ages and skill levels around the globe will participate in Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up on September 20 and/or 21, 2008. Participants can climb, hike, run or cycle up the structure of their choice, anywhere in the world.

The American Foundation for Children with AIDS (AFCA) is a not-for-profit foundation providing medical supplies and aid to children in countries hardest hit by HIV/AIDS including Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The sub-Saharan region of Africa is the worst affected by the pediatric AIDS pandemic with more than two million children under the age of 15 living with HIV.
Last year’s climb-a-thon was AFCA’s first and raised over $15,000. “Our goal is to at least double that this year,” said Tanya Weaver, AFCA’s Executive Director. “This year the need is even greater because of the crisis in Kenya, which has made it even more difficult to get medicine and supplies to the children.

“Everyone can ensure that hundreds of children live longer, healthier lives simply by organizing a team wherever you are and climbing up, whether by cycling, running, hiking, or climbing. The important thing is to get the nation and the world moving to help these children.” Weaver noted that all contributions are tax-deductible.

Many leading outdoor and other companies support Climb Up So Kids Can Grow including National Geographic Adventure Magazine, Women’s Adventure Magazine, Skyline Marketing, The River Inn, Chubasco, MadRock, Black Diamond, Petzl, LARABAR, CerconeBrownCurtis and KG Communications.

For more information on registering, forming a team or sponsorship, please go to http://www.climbupsokidscangrowup.com/.

Save Children While Saving the Planet

An easy way to make a difference to both the children we serve and our planet is to recycle through http://www.planetgreenrecycle.com/. Contact Planet Green and they will send you recycling boxes and pre-paid shipping labels. Then, simply recycle old cell phones and used ink cartridges, pack them up and sent them to Planet Green, indicating on their packing slip that the proceeds check should be sent to AFCA at 6221 Blue Grass Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17112.

See? Easy and no cost to you...but we help keep the earth a bit cleaner and we save the lives of children affected by AIDS!

Update from our partner in Kenya

It is now 4 weeks since I returned to Kenya after the Christmas break, and it feels like I have lived a lifetime in those short weeks. I want to write, but I am having a hard time choosing what to write about to give a true image of this country. If I say it is a beautiful country with lovely people who are hard working and reserved, then how do I explain the last 6 weeks? Most Kenyans are also trying to explain the last 6 weeks. There is a lot of depression here and pain, as people ask themselves what happened.

Most of the clashes (as they are referred to) have stopped, but in some areas verbal threatening continues and people are still terrified. The peace talks continue, but it is like Nairobi is a million miles away and out of touch with the rest of the country which has people living all over the place or traveling the roads to find what they perceive to be a safe place.

Two days ago about 200 displaced Kikuyus moved just down the road from us onto some land loaned to them by a fellow Kikuyu. They have absolutely nothing but the loan of this land for temporary shelters. No water or food, no shelter, no clothes but what’s on their backs. The men organized themselves and half have gone looking for work, while the other half have found pieces of wood and trees and someone bought some tin for roofing and they are erecting little shacks for temporary shelter. My taxi driver from Gilgil who drives me locally is a Kikuyu, so I asked him to try overnight to mobilize the Kikuyu taxi and lorry drivers in Gilgil to help these people.

This morning I found myself in Gilgil with these guys organizing them to provide what these displaced people need most besides shelter—water. By noon, we had delivered wood to build 4 platforms which we needed to place 4 water tanks on, and had a fundi (skilled laborer) actually building the platforms. They’ll be finished tomorrow morning , then we place the tanks (with taps) on the platforms and get a water truck to fill them. The town stores also provided Jerry cans so that the women can take water from the tanks back to their individual family areas. We also brought them enough maize and beans for a few days. At staff assembly this morning, I appealed for clothes and household items to be left at my apartment door, and when I returned, I could hardly get in because of the bags of stuff waiting. I have called the taxi drivers and they will come and pick it all up and deliver it.

Early tomorrow morning I go with Dr. Wangai, one of our young physicians, to speak with the Provincial Medical Officer for Rift Valley. Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres) are running a clinic in a displaced persons camp in the Nakuru Stadium and are interested in sending us medical/surgical referrals. We have raised some money to pay for free medical care for several hundred displaced persons, and negotiated with St. John’s Ambulance (sound familiar ?) to transport them the 30 km to St. Mary’s. Normally, the referrals would go to nearby government hospitals, but they are totally overloaded. We’ll see what he says.

Several weeks ago I journeyed to Eldoret and KaKamega with a police escort to retrieve 8 orphans who were stranded there after Christmas break and needed help. Three were from our orphanage high school at St. Mary’s in Nairobi, and 5 from St. Therese orphanage next door here at Elementita. I went for 8 kids and only came back with 7, and it has bothered me ever since.

Little Delvin (girl), age 8, was with relatives, but when we went to pick her up, the house had been burned and neighbors could only tell us the general direction they’d run in. There was nothing I could do with 7 other kids to worry about. I listed her as missing with the police, but the countryside around there is in turmoil so I knew they’d never find her.

Last Sunday I went back to the Eldoret area, and with a helpful social worker who works with the police we started retracing her possible routes. We started at 6 a.m. and found her in a slum in Eldoret at 2:30 p.m. with a relative. She was out of medication, and her kidneys were shutting down. She kept asking about her friend Anne from the orphanage. They are reunited now, and Delvin has already improved considerably. There are days when I can’t believe this is all real and what I’m doing.

American Foundation for Children with AIDS Increases Aid in Response to Kenyan Crisis

Harrisburg, PA (February 12, 2008) – The American Foundation for Children with AIDS (AFCA), a not-for-profit foundation providing medical supplies and aid to children in countries hardest hit by HIV/AIDS, is increasing its efforts in Kenya in response to the growing need resulting from the current unrest.

AFCA is sending additional supplies to children and adults, including those who are currently staying in camps for displaced people. It is estimated that over 300,000 children and adults have been displaced as a result of their homes being burned. They are forced to sleep in churches, parks and on the streets. Children with HIV/AIDS are at increased risk because they may not have access to their medication.

“We receive daily reports from our partners in Kenya and are deeply concerned about the increased risk facing the children with HIV/AIDS whom we serve,” said AFCA Executive Director Tanya Weaver. AFCA is working with the Archdiocese of Mombasa Community Based Heath Care and AIDS Relief Program, which serves over 500,000 people in seven parishes of Mombasa.

A contribution of $30 provides a full month’s worth of life-saving medication to an HIV positive child. With $5,000, AFCA can provide a 40-foot container of much-needed food, hygiene kits, milk, and other supplies to partner hospitals.

Tax-deductible contributions can be made to AFCA and sent to 6221 Blue Grass Avenue, Harrisburg, PA, 17112, or online at http://www.helpchildrenwithaids.org/donate.htm/.

About American Foundation for Children with AIDS
American Foundation for Children with AIDS is an independent international humanitarian aid organization established in 2004. AFCA is a 501(c)(3) not–for-profit organization incorporated in the state of Florida, USA. It has been certified Best in America by the Independent Charities of America. AFCA’s mission is to improve the lives of children and youth struggling with the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. We provide cost-effective relief, services, medical and social support, education and advocacy to help these individuals achieve their full life potential.

AFCA believes that true success is achieved through collaboration with qualified local professionals. To this end, we partner with the following agencies to deliver quality, donated anti retroviral medications and supplies to HIV positive children and their caretakers: Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda; Archdiocese of Mombasa in Mombasa, Kenya; Voi Children’s Health Program in Voi, Kenya; ZOE in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and St. Mary’s Mission Hospital in Nairobi and Elementita, Kenya. For more information please visit www.helpchildrenwithaids.org.
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American Foundation for Children with AIDS Seeks Volunteers to Build a House in Kenya

The AFCA is looking for volunteers to help build a house for orphans in Nairobi, Kenya this summer. 18 volunteers are needed to fill a team of big-hearted individuals who want to change the lives of people by giving them a decent place to call home. The trip will be from July 19 – August 2, 2008.

While no construction experience is needed, we are looking for people who are willing to learn, to play, to laugh, and to change lives. Flexibility is a must. Cost is $1,950 plus airfare and includes food, in-country transportation, insurance, donation to AFCA’s work, snacks, and housing. As an aside, all money spent on accommodations will go directly to support the education of AIDS orphans!

If interested in participating, please email International Volunteer Partnerships at eweaver@volunteerpartnerships.com or call AFCA at 888.683.8323. An application and interview process will follow.

AFCA Raising Funds for Medical Supplies and Cereal

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, on December 28, 2007 American Foundation for Children with AIDS sent a 40 inch container full of medical equipment and supplies (including sutures, walkers, wheelchairs, needles, braces, gurneys, exam tables, bedside tables, feeding tubes, and other items) to rural hospitals in Uganda treating children with HIV and AIDS.

We're preparing another container to send, this time full of ATMIT (a soy-based fortified cereal) for the kids who don't otherwise have food to eat when they take their medicines. For anyone who wants to be a part of the project, visit change.org to create a fundraising page for this specific project.